Greetings,
My friends.
This is Mark Gladman,
Also known as Brother Frederick James,
Your friendly neighbourhood monk in docks.
Welcome to another reflection as we journey through Lent,
Reflecting on the I Am statements of Jesus.
Today we come to the end of our third week where we've been reflecting on Jesus,
Speaking of being the door or the gate.
So,
As usual,
I invite you to take a deep breath in,
To exhale,
Settle into this moment and let your mind grow still as you prepare to reflect on God's invitation to come home.
In John 10 verses 9-10,
Jesus says,
I am the gate.
Whoever enters through me will be saved.
They will come in and go out and find pasture.
I have come that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Close your eyes for a moment and imagine a gate.
And the gate is open.
And beyond this open gate,
There is peace.
Beyond this open gate,
There is rest.
Beyond this open gate,
There is home.
This is what Jesus offers.
A place of belonging.
A place of safety.
A place where you are fully known and completely loved.
So often in life,
We search for home.
We long for a place where we'll be accepted,
Where we can lay down our burdens,
Where we don't have to prove ourselves or hide our flaws.
And Jesus says,
Come to me.
Come as you are.
Come with your questions.
Come with your weariness.
Come with your joy and your gladness.
Come with your wounds.
Because home is not a place per se.
Home is a person.
And friend,
That person is calling your name.
The gate image that we have here and we've been reflecting on this week is so rich with meaning.
A gate offers protection.
But it's not a wall.
It's not a barrier.
A gate is an opening.
A gate is a passageway.
Jesus is the gate.
Not just a teacher who points to the way,
But the way itself.
Not just some distant God,
But the one who stands in the doorway,
Arms open,
Welcoming you in.
So let me ask you,
Where in your life right now do you feel far from home?
What burdens are you carrying that make it hard to step into God's embrace?
What would it look like to trust that Jesus is your safe passage,
That through him you are already home?
Let's take a moment to imagine.
You're standing outside the gate.
You see the sheepfold beyond it.
It's warm,
Inviting.
It's filled with peace.
You hear the voice of the shepherd calling you by your name.
There's no hesitation in his voice,
No rejection,
No condemnation,
Only love.
Slowly you step forward.
You walk through the gate.
And as you do,
You feel something shift.
The weight of shame falls away.
The burden of fear lifts.
The striving to prove yourself melts into rest.
Friend,
You are home.
You are home.
Not because of what you've done,
But because you belong to the one who made you.
You are home.
You are home.
Sit in this moment.
In this little space of silence,
Let the presence of God surround you and let his love hold you.
Jesus doesn't just invite us into the fold for safety.
He invites us into abundant life,
A life that isn't about wealth or success.
It's about fullness,
Fullness of joy,
Fullness of love,
Fullness of purpose.
A life where we're not just surviving,
But we're thriving.
A life where we're not just known,
But cherished.
A life where we're not just safe,
But we're free.
This,
My friend,
This is the life Jesus offers.
A life rooted in the unshakable truth that you are loved,
That you are called,
And that you are already home in him.
And so,
As we come to the end of our time today,
Breathe in deeply.
Breathe out.
And as you step back into the rhythms of the day,
Carry this truth with you.
May you always hear the voice of the shepherd calling you by your name.
May you trust this gate that Jesus is,
Knowing that in him you are always home.
And may you live fully in the abundance that God has prepared for you on the other side of this gate.
A life of peace,
Joy,
And of deep,
Deep abiding love.
I think this by far has been my favorite reflection.
And I pray that its truth carries you more deeply.
Through Christ the I am,
I am the gate.
May you walk through and find your home.
Go in his grace,
My friend.
And until tomorrow,
When we continue to walk through these I am statements,
Through the next one,
May God's peace be with you.
Amen.
